Full Time Couple Missionaries Being Called to Rescue RMs

[Johnnie Cake]

There is a rumor floating around that full time couple missionaries are being called to help rescue RM's recently returned from their missions. According to this source * 70% of RMs are going inactive upon their return. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor and back it up with more information?  

*daughter of couple called is making this claim

Edited August 5, 2016 by Johnnie Cake

[ksfisher]

10 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

There is a rumor floating around that full time couple missionaries are being called to help rescue RM's recently returned from their missions. According to this source * 70% of RMs are going inactive upon their return. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor and back it up with more information?  

*daughter of couple called is making this claim

Sounds like nothing more than rumor to me.

In my own experiecnce, having served in the high council in my stake for the last five years, I'm not aware of any of the returning missionaries going inactive upon their return.

Similarly, I'm not aware of any of the the turning missionaries in my ward, which I've lived in for 17 years, going inactive upon their return.

It would also seem that if the church was performing a "rescue" of returned missionaries that local priesthood leaders would be involved, as they hold the priesthood keys and have stewardship over these returned missionaries.  In my ward and stake nothing of the sort has been communicated.

PS My wife, as a church employee, attended the last new mission president trainings.  We discussed much of what was taught.  She mentioned nothing like this.  It would seem like if 70% of the missionaries were going inactive upin leaving the field that mission presidents would be involved in this "rescue" ws well.

Edited August 5, 2016 by ksfisher

[Scott Lloyd]

12 minutes ago, ksfisher said:

Sounds like nothing more than rumor to me.

In my own experiecnce, having served in the high council in my stake for the last five years, I'm not aware of any of the returning missionaries going inactive upon their return.

Similarly, I'm not aware of any of the the turning missionaries in my ward, which I've lived in for 17 years, going inactive upon their return.

It would also seem that if the church was performing a "rescue" of returned missionaries that local priesthood leaders would be involved, as they hold the priesthood keys and have stewardship over these returned missionaries.  In my ward and stake nothing of the sort has been communicated.

PS My wife, as a church employee, attended the last new mission president trainings.  We discussed much of what was taught.  She mentioned nothing like this.  It would seem like if 70% of the missionaries were going inactive upin leaving the field that mission presidents would be involved in this "rescue" ws well.

I typically cover that seminar but this time I was in Europe with the Tabernacle Choir (as a journalist, not a singer). Did your wife say whether they mentioned how many missionaries are serving just now?

[ksfisher]

6 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I typically cover that seminar but this time I was in Europe with the Tabernacle Choir (as a journalist, not a singer). Did your wife say whether they mentioned how many missionaries are serving just now?

If she did it didn't stick in my brain.

[Storm Rider]

I suspect there are missionaries who return home and then choose not to be very active.  We are new in this ward having been here only some fourteen months.  I have not observed this in the ward or heard of it in the stake.  It may be that there are localized issues of this nature.  Regardless, I know of missionaries that have gone inactive, but nothing close to the percentage you quoted.  

[Gray]

The percentage I've heard quoted is 50%, which is actually a better activity rate than the average, but who knows what the real number is. 

[stemelbow]

13 minutes ago, Gray said:

The percentage I've heard quoted is 50%, which is actually a better activity rate than the average, but who knows what the real number is. 

In our forsaken area of the Church (it seems forsaken compared to all the lovely stories that people have about their areas) I'd say 50% is about right. 

[Johnnie Cake]

Greg Price recently quoted a GA sourse using 50%

[Buckeye]

First, let me make it clear that I love couple missionaries dearly. My parents and grandparents have served. My ward has been privileged to have a couple dedicated to it for the past 18 months and they've performed miracles.

With that said, my gut tells me that having couple missionaries specifically assigned to work with 18-19 year old youth is not likely to be effective. At all. These are kids. They can be reached by other kids and youth leaders. But they're not going to open the door (or email or phone) to a strange elderly couple.

[stemelbow]

3 minutes ago, Buckeye said:

First, let me make it clear that I love couple missionaries dearly. My parents and grandparents have served. My ward has been privileged to have a couple dedicated to it for the past 18 months and they've performed miracles.

With that said, my gut tells me that having couple missionaries specifically assigned to work with 18-19 year old youth is not likely to be effective. At all. These are kids. They can be reached by other kids and youth leaders. But they're not going to open the door (or email or phone) to a strange elderly couple.

Yes...this.  If the church really used elderly couples to work with former missionaries, well...it'll feel alike a pretty desperate move and not well thought out. 

[ksfisher]

5 minutes ago, stemelbow said:

Yes...this.  If the church really used elderly couples to work with former missionaries, well...it'll feel alike a pretty desperate move and not well thought out. 

Perhaps it would be better to wait until this rumor turns into an actual announcement from the church before rendering too much of a judgement.

I think that it is also important to remember that the priesthood keys needed to work with returned missionaries are held locally, by bishops and elders quorum presidents. 

[stemelbow]

41 minutes ago, ksfisher said:

Perhaps it would be better to wait until this rumor turns into an actual announcement from the church before rendering too much of a judgement.

I think that it is also important to remember that the priesthood keys needed to work with returned missionaries are held locally, by bishops and elders quorum presidents. 

Oh I doubt it's the case.  That's why I said "if". 

When I came home I don't remember any sort of support offered by local leaders.  Then again, I never did stop attending. 

[HappyJackWagon]

2 hours ago, ksfisher said:

Perhaps it would be better to wait until this rumor turns into an actual announcement from the church before rendering too much of a judgement.

I think that it is also important to remember that the priesthood keys needed to work with returned missionaries are held locally, by bishops and elders quorum presidents. 

This is exactly right. This kind of a calling would most likely come through the stake.

I've seen couples called in our stake to serve as "missionaries" with specific purposes of rescuing inactives and prospective elders. Specializing that a little more to focus on return missionaries wouldn't be too much of a stretch. But this is on a local level and it's not a "mission call" per se.

[Johnnie Cake]

Here's the FB post:I found this interesting~ I heard from my MIL(divorced) that my FIL and wife were called on a mission to Utah County/Provo area.  Their sole purpose is to teach and reactivate the returned missionaries.  Apparently, approximately 70% of RMs are going inactive.  Anyone heard of the inactivity rate?

So seems that this rumor falls into the category of rumor, speculation and hearsay. Doubly suspecious given its coming from a lapsed member

[Calm]

I find it more likely they were called to help out with working with local leaders to implement the "My Plan" plan (I believe that is the name).  I don't see much success with a senior couple doing reactivating efforts directly with college age kids, rather they supervise the programs (as is done in our ward with a couple supervising institute and other opportunities for young adults but it is mainly young adults doing the actual work).  We also have a senior couple called as local missionaries, I will have to ask my husband if he knowswhat they do as I haven't had much contact with them.

 I could see the 70% number being missionaries having trouble reintegrating back into their nonmissionary lives.  Providing counseling aid for those, such as help with jobs, schools, encouraging them to get involved in various church activities...I can see that.

[bluebell]

20 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

This is exactly right. This kind of a calling would most likely come through the stake.

I've seen couples called in our stake to serve as "missionaries" with specific purposes of rescuing inactives and prospective elders. Specializing that a little more to focus on return missionaries wouldn't be too much of a stretch. But this is on a local level and it's not a "mission call" per se.

Here in utah we have a surprising number of senior couples serving a mission in our stake, who are from our stake.  They even sometimes serve in their old wards.  

[readstoomuch]

The number is higher than it used to be.  It could be up to 70% in certain areas, but not in my ward or the missionaries that served in our ward and went home, staying in touch.  Far more missionaries are going home for medical problems with depression and anxiety being the biggest category.  Most missionaries are staying active, though my own son is an inactive returned missionary.  Our stake has talked about a mentoring program because some returned missionaries may still go to church, but are underemployed and undereducated.  As is happening nationally more women are going to college and on to work than men and it is showing up in our stake.  My wife says that the feminists have won and now we need to "save" this lost generation of boys who are not progressing after their missions or even college.  Of course this IMO.  My wife's opinion is always right though.  

[cinepro]

If true, I think it's great that Senior Couples would be called for such a purpose.  

But I won't believe the Church is taking it seriously until I hear that Visitor's Center-quality Sister Missionaries are being diverted to the cause.

[HappyJackWagon]

32 minutes ago, bluebell said:

Here in utah we have a surprising number of senior couples serving a mission in our stake, who are from our stake.  They even sometimes serve in their old wards.  

Yeah, I've seen that a little too. But it's very strange to me. It's as if everyone needs a missionary nametag for their callings these days. Is there a magical power that emanates from the nametag?

If there's a need in a stake, why not issue a calling. Why does it have to be a mission call. For that matter, is the church so strong in certain areas that it is better to take senior couples out of that area to send them to another area? Why send couples from Provo to serve in Oregon and couples from Oregon to serve in Provo, or Ogden, or wherever. Why not just assign them locally? It's like there's a missionary fetish in the church that provides some kind of stature to those who have served a "senior mission" as opposed to serving in the same way in a calling in their own ward or stake.

And let's not even get into the cost efficiency of this system.

[The Nehor]

4 hours ago, cinepro said:

If true, I think it's great that Senior Couples would be called for such a purpose.  

But I won't believe the Church is taking it seriously until I hear that Visitor's Center-quality Sister Missionaries are being diverted to the cause.

I laughed.

[Guest]

On August 5, 2016 at 0:20 AM, Johnnie Cake said:

There is a rumor floating around that full time couple missionaries are being called to help rescue RM's recently returned from their missions. According to this source * 70% of RMs are going inactive upon their return. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor and back it up with more information?  

*daughter of couple called is making this claim

70%...please CFR that many RM's are leaving the Church, or just not coming to Church. I guess I was lucky, the two of my Children are still active...the oldest I'd going on 22 years and my youngest 4 yrs. So please my we see the source you speak of? 

[Thinking]

It seems that the missionaries that the Church would be most concerned about are those who return before their missions are completed.

[Paddy]

How do you define what a return missionary is? Is it a returned missionary within a certain period of time. And why would they be singled out from other young people of a similar age going less active. Makes no sense to me. 

[RevTestament]

1 hour ago, Pa Pa said:

70%...please CFR that many RM's are leaving the Church, or just not coming to Church. I guess I was lucky, the two of my Children are still active...the oldest I'd going on 22 years and my youngest 4 yrs. So please my we see the source you speak of? 

It was just a FB post - 0 credibility:

On 08/05/2016 at 1:52 PM, Johnnie Cake said:

Here's the FB post:I found this interesting~ I heard from my MIL(divorced) that my FIL and wife were called on a mission to Utah County/Provo area.  Their sole purpose is to teach and reactivate the returned missionaries.  Apparently, approximately 70% of RMs are going inactive.  Anyone heard of the inactivity rate?

So seems that this rumor falls into the category of rumor, speculation and hearsay. Doubly suspecious given its coming from a lapsed member

 

[Freedom]

On 8/4/2016 at 9:20 PM, Johnnie Cake said:

There is a rumor floating around that full time couple missionaries are being called to help rescue RM's recently returned from their missions. According to this source * 70% of RMs are going inactive upon their return. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor and back it up with more information?  

*daughter of couple called is making this claim

This is absolutely true. We just sent off a missionary couple this week who are heading out to train teachers for this very purpose. It is an expansion of the provident living course.